Eladio Martínez
Encyclopedia
Eladio Martínez was born in Paraguarí
, Paraguay
, on May 19, 1912, son of Lorenzo Martínez and Nicolasa Benítez. He belonged to a family of musicians. His father was a bandleader of a group formed entirely by his relatives in Villarrica
.
He moved to Asuncion
in 1928. His participation at a folkloric amateur competition sponsored by Roque Centurión Miranda at the Municipal Theatre was the event that convinced the most to become a professional musician. In that occasion won the first prize representing Villarica and performing "Che la reina" by Emiliano R. Fernández
and Félix Pérez Cardozo
. It was 1930.
In 1931, he traveled to Montevideo
, Uruguay
, and afterwards moved to Buenos Aires
, where joined Mauricio Cardozo Ocampo
in the famous duo "Martínez-Cardozo". This was the first Paraguayan band that performed at the important SODRE Hall of Montevideo, among other places.
He married Aida Ayala. His sons "Lobo" and Jorge "Lobito" Martínez are also popular and talented musicians.
By then used to perform as soloist, accompanied by the guitar, or in the Felix Perez Cardozo's band (whom which recorded many discs), the Gumersindo Ayala Aquino's Band or his own, "Nelly".
In 1948 was invited to the Olympic Games in London
, England
, sponsored by Sir Eugen Millington-Drake
, to make up for the Paraguayan absence in Olympic sports. He also invited the composer Emigdio Ayala Báez
(then was when they composed the Guarania "Oración a mi amada", "Prayer to my love" in English, one of the most popular loving songs in Paraguay) and the harpist Albino Quiñónez. The "Olympic Trio", as the group was named, performed with great success in special TV shows at the BBC
, singing to the Olympic delegations of different countries, at the Oxford University and performing to the Royal Family itself, extending his tour to many European cities.
Back to Buenos Aires had at his charge, the music for the film "El trueno entre las hojas", ("The thunder among the leaves") directed by Armando Bo with script from Augusto Roa Bastos
.
After many years of brilliant international career, Eladio Martínez resolved to return to his land. He became a symbol in trying to rescue and promote the folkloric music at the universities during the '70. By then, because of his great popularity and his belonging to a generation of extraordinary Paraguayan musicians he received the surname of "El grande" ("The big one").
To his composer and singer skills, he added his natural gift for speech, his implacable scold to the ones who negated the great truths of the Paraguayan music related to the "golden generation" that he used to know as few, and his amazing charisma.
In 1979, accompanied by his guitar and voice, went to Japan
where was carrying out the World Youth Football Championship.
Briefly, before his decease, directed a popular radio show in Radio Tajy of Asuncion named "Una guitarra en la noche" ("A guitar in the night"), sweetly harmonized with comments and songs.
He also recompiled very old "compuestos" (popular musical compositions that relates historical or satirical facts as a song) just like "El casamiento del taravé" and "Mateo Gamarra".
Paraguarí
Paraguarí is a city, distrito and capital of Paraguarí Department in Paraguay, located 66 km from the country’s capital, Asunción. At the 2002 census it had a population of 22,154.- Toponymy :...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, on May 19, 1912, son of Lorenzo Martínez and Nicolasa Benítez. He belonged to a family of musicians. His father was a bandleader of a group formed entirely by his relatives in Villarrica
Villarrica, Paraguay
Villarrica is a city located in the middle of the Oriental Region of the Paraguayan territory, is capital of the Guairá Department. It was founded by the Spanish Captain Ruy Diaz de Melgarejo on May 14, 1570 in the old Guaira, today in Brazilian territory....
.
Childhood and youth
Initially learn to play the flute and later the guitar, an instrument that he used to play fluently, although his most remarkable contribution to the music was as singer and composer.He moved to Asuncion
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
in 1928. His participation at a folkloric amateur competition sponsored by Roque Centurión Miranda at the Municipal Theatre was the event that convinced the most to become a professional musician. In that occasion won the first prize representing Villarica and performing "Che la reina" by Emiliano R. Fernández
Emiliano R. Fernández
Emiliano R. Fernández was born on August 8, 1894, in Yvysunu, Guarambare, Paraguay. His parents were Silvestre Fernandez and Bernarda Rivarola.-Childhood and youth:He is the author of more than 2,000 poems...
and Félix Pérez Cardozo
Félix Pérez Cardozo
He was born on the November 20, 1908 to Teodoro Pérez and Cándida Rosa Cardozo in the small town of Hyaty in the state of Guairá in Paraguay. This town currently carries his name. Pérez Cardozo died on April 8, 1973 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.- Beginnings :...
. It was 1930.
In 1931, he traveled to Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, and afterwards moved to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, where joined Mauricio Cardozo Ocampo
Mauricio Cardozo Ocampo
Mauricio Cardozo Ocampo was the main reference of the so called “golden generation” of the Paraguayan popular music and a strict studious of the Paraguayan folk music.-Biography:...
in the famous duo "Martínez-Cardozo". This was the first Paraguayan band that performed at the important SODRE Hall of Montevideo, among other places.
He married Aida Ayala. His sons "Lobo" and Jorge "Lobito" Martínez are also popular and talented musicians.
Career
For fifteen years managed radio shows in Buenos Aires such as "Movimiento musical paraguayo" ("Paraguayan music movement") in Radio Cultura and "Polcas y Guaranias" ("Polkas and Guaranias") in Radio Rivadavia, and also some other shows in other radio stations as Belgrano, Mitre, El Mundo, Excelsior, among others.By then used to perform as soloist, accompanied by the guitar, or in the Felix Perez Cardozo's band (whom which recorded many discs), the Gumersindo Ayala Aquino's Band or his own, "Nelly".
In 1948 was invited to the Olympic Games in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, sponsored by Sir Eugen Millington-Drake
Eugen Millington-Drake
British diplomat Sir Eugen John Henry Vanderstegen Millington-Drake, KCMG, was born 26 February 1889, the son of Henry Millington-Drake. In 1920 he married Lady Effie Mackay, daughter of the 1st Earl of Inchcape, and they had four children. He died 12 December 1972.He was educated at Eton and...
, to make up for the Paraguayan absence in Olympic sports. He also invited the composer Emigdio Ayala Báez
Emigdio Ayala Báez
Emigdio Ayala Báez was born in Escobar, a town of the Paraguarí Department, Paraguay, on August 5, 1917.-Beginnings:He started his artistic career with the master Herminio Giménez, with who, around 1940, started his first artistic tour of presentation in Brazil.In 1941 the famous group of Félix...
(then was when they composed the Guarania "Oración a mi amada", "Prayer to my love" in English, one of the most popular loving songs in Paraguay) and the harpist Albino Quiñónez. The "Olympic Trio", as the group was named, performed with great success in special TV shows at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, singing to the Olympic delegations of different countries, at the Oxford University and performing to the Royal Family itself, extending his tour to many European cities.
Back to Buenos Aires had at his charge, the music for the film "El trueno entre las hojas", ("The thunder among the leaves") directed by Armando Bo with script from Augusto Roa Bastos
Augusto Roa Bastos
Augusto Roa Bastos, was a noted Paraguayan novelist and short story writer, and one of the most important Latin American writers of the 20th century. As a teenager he fought in the Chaco War between Paraguay and Bolivia, and he later worked as a journalist, screenwriter and professor...
.
After many years of brilliant international career, Eladio Martínez resolved to return to his land. He became a symbol in trying to rescue and promote the folkloric music at the universities during the '70. By then, because of his great popularity and his belonging to a generation of extraordinary Paraguayan musicians he received the surname of "El grande" ("The big one").
To his composer and singer skills, he added his natural gift for speech, his implacable scold to the ones who negated the great truths of the Paraguayan music related to the "golden generation" that he used to know as few, and his amazing charisma.
In 1979, accompanied by his guitar and voice, went to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
where was carrying out the World Youth Football Championship.
Briefly, before his decease, directed a popular radio show in Radio Tajy of Asuncion named "Una guitarra en la noche" ("A guitar in the night"), sweetly harmonized with comments and songs.
Works
Eladio is the author of many famous songs such as:- "Lucerito alba" (Little morning star)
- "Noches guaireñas" (Nights of Guaira)
- "Cayé"
- "Che trigueñami"
- "Che pykasumi"
- "A mi Corrientes porâ" (To my beautiful Corrientes)
- "Che vallemi" (My little town)
- "Nelly"
- "Oración a mi amada" (Prayer to my love)
- "Lejana flor" (Distant flower)
- "Es linda nuestra tierra" (Is beautiful our land)
- The Paraguayan zarzuela "Pacholi", with script from Manuel Frutos Pane.
He also recompiled very old "compuestos" (popular musical compositions that relates historical or satirical facts as a song) just like "El casamiento del taravé" and "Mateo Gamarra".